RTÉ News has learned a Nigerian women who was deported last night left the country without her baby who is an Irish citizen.
A garda spokesperson said the woman left her baby behind by choice in the care of her partner. The baby is understood to be seven months old.
The woman was one of 28 people deported from Dublin last night. They arrived in Lagos on a specially chartered plane this morning.
A Nigerian man, who was deported on the same flight, told RTÉ News the woman was distressed and had protested that she could not leave without her child.
The Department of Justice said it could not comment on individual cases. However, a statement from the Department said it was for the parents of a child who is not liable to be deported to make a decision on the child's welfare if they themselves are deported.
The latest deportations bring to 69 the number of Nigerians expelled this year. In all, 381 people have been returned to their country of origin this year.
